Kyokushin and Shotokan

[muttley]

Could someone please enlighten me as to the differences between these 2 styles?

I have studied Shotokan for ages but want to move on to something new, something different.

My main issue is that with Shotokan being taught as non-contact, little sparring etc, what have I got to do to prepare myself for a Kyokushin lesson? Am I likely to be smashed across the dojo and come back covered in bruises and black eyes etc? I am not afraid of getting hit, I just don't know how my work would react to me turning up black and blue!

[mal103]

I would say try a proper club of Shotokan....

I've just about recovered from our summer camp with bruises all over, mainly from the Sandan.

Depends on the club but Shotokan done properly is definitely NOT a NON-Contact style.

From what i've seen of the other style they tend to stand and take it whilst giving it out, so its a war of who can take/give the best blows.

Shotokan sparring is more about in/out attacks, well it is when we do it...

Changing style is drastic as you are going backwards on the path? There is plenty to learn in Shotokan.

[bassaiguy]

I would say that most modern Shotoakn (at least in my little corner of the world) is non-contact. However, good, traditional Shotokan involves quite a bit of contact. Kyokushin is an intentionally heavy-contact style, but lately I've seen Kyokushin schools that offer non-contact programs to keep their more casual students from quitting. So, I guess the answer is check each school careully.

There is a distinct difference in competition, though. Kyokushin has full-contact, no face punches, tournaments. Shotokan has point-based tournaments that usually allow very heavy, but controlled contact. Freestyle/Open tournaments don't normally allow much contact all, so again caveat emptor. I prefer the Shotokan way because people try more variety of techniques and it seems faster to me. Sometimes Kyokushin shiai just look like two guys slugging each other in the guts.

Historically, Shotokan is based on Itosu-ha Shorin-ryu influenced by Japanese budo. Kyokushin is based on Shotokan and other 20th century karate styles (plus judo in its earlier form).

[brickshooter]

Could someone please enlighten me as to the differences between these 2 styles?

I have studied Shotokan for ages but want to move on to something new, something different.

My main issue is that with Shotokan being taught as non-contact, little sparring etc, what have I got to do to prepare myself for a Kyokushin lesson? Am I likely to be smashed across the dojo and come back covered in bruises and black eyes etc? I am not afraid of getting hit, I just don't know how my work would react to me turning up black and blue!

Kyokushin is sparing based. They tend to draw young men. So you get to train with peers who are more receptive to contact sparing. But if you stick your head in a school and see kids and old ladies trainig, you're not going to get contact sparing regardless of what they call themselves. And conversely if you see a lot of young men training, you're going to see a lot of contact sparing. Testosterone seems to be the biggest factor rather than style.

Many Kyokushin school will automatically bump you to blue belt if you tell them you're Dan graded in Shotokan. Don't take it as an insult. It's for safety reasons as they want to gradually introduce you to contact rather than drop you in the fire and use you as a punching bag. And it protects them as well as you're not accustomed to Kyokushin sparing rules and may crack someone's head open.

People who are new to contact sparing tend to take things really personal when they're hit for the first couple of times.

[Kuma]

If Kyokushin is interesting to you, try a class out. The founder, Masutatsu Oyama, had Dan rankings in both Goju Ryu and Shotokan so a lot of the kata will be familiar to you.

[pers]

I would say that most modern Shotoakn (at least in my little corner of the world) is non-contact. However, good, traditional Shotokan involves quite a bit of contact. Kyokushin is an intentionally heavy-contact style, but lately I've seen Kyokushin schools that offer non-contact programs to keep their more casual students from quitting. So, I guess the answer is check each school careully.

There is a distinct difference in competition, though. Kyokushin has full-contact, no face punches, tournaments. Shotokan has point-based tournaments that usually allow very heavy, but controlled contact. Freestyle/Open tournaments don't normally allow much contact all, so again caveat emptor. I prefer the Shotokan way because people try more variety of techniques and it seems faster to me. Sometimes Kyokushin shiai just look like two guys slugging each other in the guts.

Historically, Shotokan is based on Itosu-ha Shorin-ryu influenced by Japanese budo. Kyokushin is based on Shotokan and other 20th century karate styles (plus judo in its earlier form).

Great post !

[sensei8]

Kyokushin = Knockdown karate

Shotokan = Not knockdown karate

Are they both effective? Yes! But that's dependant on the practitioner. Is the practitioner effective when using either one. The style can be effective, but the practitioner isn't always.

[ShotokanMaster]

If you wanna have a good shotokan go to fresno california Sensie steve wong is a great sensie also in Bakersfield ca shihan abe is good so as sensie jason hanby I know because im their student

[Kuma]

If you wanna have a good shotokan go to fresno california Sensie steve wong is a great sensie also in Bakersfield ca shihan abe is good so as sensie jason hanby I know because im their student

All well and good, but the original poster is from the UK. Bit of a trip for him.

[yamesu]

Kyokushin = Knockdown karate

Shotokan = Not knockdown karate

Are they both effective? Yes! But that's dependant on the practitioner. Is the practitioner effective when using either one. The style can be effective, but the practitioner isn't always.

Very true!!!

In fact, some of he early Kyokushin knockdown tournaments were won by Shotokan practitioners.

In saying that Im 100% Kyokushin through and through. Personal preference really.